Delivery-switch.



m. sa|,o57.. Patanted Aug: 20, 1901.- c. m. JOHNSON.

DELIVERY SWITCH.

(Apphcat on filed, Sept 22 1898 I 2 Shasta-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

Patented Aug. 20,1901.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' ow m la" 1 C. M. JUHNSUN. DELIVERY SWITCH. 4 m at on 111 as pt 22 1898) No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

.To all whom it inwy concern.-

DELIVERY-SWITCH,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 681,057, dated August 20, 1901.

Application filed September 22, 1893. $erial No. 486,176. (No model.)

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. JOHNSON,

. a citizen of the United States, residingin the city, county, and State of New York, have in-' vented a new and useful Improvement in Delivery-Switches for Pneumatic Tubes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side view, partly in section, showing the deliveryswitch in full lines when not in operative position and in dotted lines in position to switch the carrier from the main tube to the branch tube. Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the carrier in position in the tube. Fig. 3 .is a side view, partlyin section, and showing in section certain parts not so shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the circuitclosing mechanism at the operators station. My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in delivery-switches for pneumatic tubes in which by means of a circuit-. closer at the cashiers desk the switch at the branch station at which it is desired to switch .a the carrier can be set in proper position, and it also relates to breaking the circuit by'a carrier passing through the branch tube by which the delivery-switch is held in position; to switch the carrier, whereby the delivery switch is returned to its normal position.

It further relates to means for receiving,

cushioning, and delivering carriers at each salesmans station.

Myinvention consists of certain novel fea:

I tures, arrangements, and combinations here inafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

A represents the main tube of a pneumatic system, to which the branch delivery-tube B is secured, as shown. WVithin the tube the carrier 0 is adapted to travel and has a wheel cushions for taking up the momentum of the carrier as it passes from the main tube into the branch tube and then into the receivingtube in alinement with the branch tube, while the main air-current continues along through the main tube A. The branch tube B and re ceiving air-cushion F are supportedby brackets K, resting upon the main tube A. The air-cushions G, H, and J are held together by means of frames L L, the frame L being fast on the shaft L and the other end of the shaft loosely mounted in the bracket K. A ratchet L is mounted fast on said shaft, and with said ratchet a pawl L is adapted to engage and hold the revolving air-cushion F in fixed position when any of the tubes G H Jare in alinement with the branch tube B. This pawl is tube B, having been switched into said branch tube in a manner hereinafter described, it strikes the projection L so as to lift said projection out of the opening g in the aircushion G, and this operation releases the pawl L from the ratchet L and the weight of the carrier in the air-cushion Grevolves said cushion from its position shown in the drawings and the air-cushion H is brought into alinement with the tube B, and the projection L drops into the opening it, and the pawl L engages with the ratchet L and holds the revolving air-cushion F in proper position. As the air-cushion G passes from alinement with the tube B the carrier is discharged therefrom by gravity, due to the inclination of the tubes G, H, and J and by the rebound caused by the compressed air in said tubes compressed ahead of the carrier. tVhen the next carrier is received by the air-cushion H, this operation is repeated, and a like operation takes place with the other tubes when the carriers are received therein.

The switch M extends across the junction of the main tube A with the branch tube B and is fixed on the shaft M, journaled at the junction of the two tubes. Fixed on the same shaft is a lever M having at one-end a weight M and at the other end extends downwardly a rod M, with a soft-iron core M moving in a helix M The main tube A and branch tube B are provided, respectively,

with the offsets A and B for receiving the free end of the switch M, so as not to present an obstruction to the passage of the carrier either through the main tube or the branch tube.

The normal position of the delivery-switch M is as shown in full lines, Fig. 1. Now when it is desired by the cashier to return a carrier to the salesmans station to which the branch tube B leads, the switch 0, which is normally held by a spring 0 between the wire P and the magnet P is moved to close the circuit through the wires P P. O is a clasp for holding the switch when moved to close the circuit. The closing of this circuit causes the helix M to draw the soft-iron core M downwardly and with it the lever M and thereby throws the switch-tongue M in the position as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1.

off from the wires P P, and thereby breaks thecircuit through these wires. The counterweight M then returns the switch-tongue M to its normal position, as shown in full lines. Thisbreaking of the circuit by the carrier in the branch tube B signals to the cashier that the carrier has been delivered to its proper station.

Although I have only shown one switchstation, yet it will be understood that as many switch-stations can be arranged as desired, involving the same principle of operation, as

" -5.kdescribed.

As will be understood, by those skilled in the art the carriers are sent from the salesman to the cashier through a line of tube either above, alongside, or below the tube A, and in which there is provided an opening closed bya suitable valve at each salesmans station, through which the carriers are introduced into the said tube leading to the cashier.

I do not limit myself to the exact arrangements and constructions shown, as the same may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

' with, a switch normally closing said branch tube, a shaft on which said switch is mounted, a lever fast on said shaft, a weight on one end of said lever for holding the switch in position to close said branch tube, an electric circuit for operating said switch, a helix ineluded in said circuit, an iron core for said helix carried by the opposite end of said lever, a circuit-closer controlled by the operator for closing said circuit and thereby movingand retaining said switch in position to divert the carrier from the main tube into the branch tube, and means operated by the diverted carrier for breaking said circuit and thereby releasing said switch which returns to its normal position to close said branch tubeby the action of said weight.

2. Inapneumatic-despatch-tube system,an air-cushioning device located out of the line of travel of the main air-current for receiving and discharging the carriers consisting of two or more chambers suitably mounted and adapted to be rotated, means for holding one of the chambers of said cushioning device normally in position to receive a carrier and adapted to be actuated by the said carrier to release the said chamber from its normal position, and means as the weight of the carrier for revolving the said cushioning device to permit the discharge of the said carrier and to bring another chamber into position to receive the next carrier.

3. Inapneumatic-despatch-tube'system,an

' air-cushioning device located out of the line of travel of the main air-current for receiving and discharging the carriers, means for holdin g said device normally in position to receive a carrier and arranged to be actuated by the A movement of said carrier entering said device to release said air-cushioning device from its normal position and thereby permit the discharge of the carrier.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 18th day of September, 1893.

CHARLES M. J OIINSON.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM F. PILLSBURY, J. O. MAHIN. 

